Harvey has muscular dystrophy, Harvey is a young boy from the ogmore valley. Harvey is smiley bubbly and such a happy big character. due to harveys illness he is now in a wheelchair!! a cool minion one I will add.. but at the moment Harvey has a one to one teacher to push him around and his amazing mum,dad brothers and other family and close friends. once Harvey reaches junior school he will no longer be able to have people pushing him and will need to be able to manage his wheelchair himself and for him to do this he will need an electronic wheelchair which will be easier on his fine motor skills in his fingers and hands as he does not have the strength to push himself.. muscular dystrophy is a life limiting illness lets help this little man as much as we can

Harvey and his family raise a lot of money for MDUK and STARLIGHT and its about time harey received a little help too, so any spare money you can donate to help this amazing little hero would be so grately appreciated

below is a little detail and insight to harveys condition.....

Muscular dystrophy is a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. In muscular dystrophy, abnormal genes (mutations) interfere with the production of proteins needed to form healthy muscle.

There are many different kinds of muscular dystrophy. Symptoms of the most common variety begin in childhood, mostly in boys. Other types don't surface until adulthood.

There's no cure for muscular dystrophy. But medications and therapy can help manage symptoms and slow the course of the disease.

Symptoms

The main sign of muscular dystrophy is progressive muscle weakness. Specific signs and symptoms begin at different ages and in different muscle groups, depending on the type of muscular dystrophy.

Duchenne type muscular dystrophy

This is the most common form of muscular dystrophy. Although girls can be carriers and mildly affected, it's much more common in boys.

About one-third of boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) don't have a family history of the disease, possibly because the gene involved may be subject to sudden abnormal change (spontaneous mutation).

Signs and symptoms typically appear in early childhood and may include:

Frequent falls

Difficulty rising from a lying or sitting up position

Trouble running and jumping

Waddling gait

Walking on the toes

Large calf muscles

Muscle pain and stiffness

Learning disabilities

Becker muscular dystrophy

Signs and symptoms are similar to those of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but tend to be milder and progress more slowly. Symptoms generally begin in the teens but may not occur until the mid-20s or even later.

Other types of muscular dystrophy

Some types of muscular dystrophy are defined by a specific feature or by where in the body symptoms first begin. Examples include:

Myotonic. Also known as Steinert's disease, this form is characterized by an inability to relax muscles at will following contractions. Myotonic muscular dystrophy is the most common form of adult-onset muscular dystrophy. Facial and neck muscles are usually the first to be affected.

Facioscapulohumeral (FSHD). Muscle weakness typically begins in the face and shoulders. The shoulder blades might stick out like wings when a person with FSHD raises his or her arms. Onset usually occurs in the teenage years but may begin in childhood or as late as age 40.

Congenital. This type affects boys and girls and is apparent at birth or before age 2. Some forms progress slowly and cause only mild disability, while others progress rapidly and cause severe impairment.

Limb-girdle. Hip and shoulder muscles are usually the first affected. People with this type of muscular dystrophy may have difficulty lifting the front part of the foot and as a result may trip frequently. Onset usually begins in childhood or the teenage years.

.